Sunday, October 28, 2007

Mark Mayerson has completed a long series of posts compiling animator identification on Disney's PINOCCHIO, along with framegrabs representing each scene. In this final entry he notes that at the end of the film when Pinoke transforms into a "real" boy it is somewhat jarring, (something similar happens at the end of BEAUTY & THE BEAST), because we are deprived of the physical model of the character we have grown to love. Both PINOCCHIO and BEAUTY are careful to wrap up the screen time because of this ticklish problem.

I never liked the "real boy" model for Pinoke myself, but I remember hearing that the animators had a hard time drawing him as human in a manner that would signify a dramatic change. About fifteen years ago I found and bought this rough drawing at a convention that seems to bear that out. This Pinoke is very appealing and retains the design of the "puppet" version, but perhaps too much. His hands in particular still have the doughy cartoon quality of Mickey or the Dwarfs and his face and hair seem little different. I could imagine it was done over several times before it was satisfactory enough to represent the change to a general audience. It must have been a tall order.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

CLAUDIO ACCIARI is one of the most inspiring artists I ever met. He was blogging for a while from his native Italy but the site closed down and I lost track of him some months back. Happily he is back and on Blogger no less. He draws, paints, designs and sketches the most versatile array of artworks you can imagine. Everything he does will make you smile and fill you with awe.

RENEGADE ELVES: Scott Santoro started drawing funny comics about cynical elves years ago and sharing them with those of us lucky to know him. Now he unleashes them on the world. Rejoice.

Jenny Lerew has observed that a lot of us guys spend a fair amount of time sketching girls...and I ain't no different! (overdub Daffy Duck laughter).I never got to animate a character of this type and I don't know if I'd be good at it but I'm going to have to try it sometime...(ps. the girl in green is not supposed to be that babe from BATMAN. I don't know from BATMAN since 1967).

I've meaning to post this for some time. I have a better copy of this book (these are slightly off-register in the color separation) but I cannot find it for the life of me. If it turns up I will swap these out and update.

These are circa 1940 and feature lively depictions of Gilbert & Sullivan's immortal characters. Of the three Savoy operas she illustrated (PINAFORE and GONDOLIERS being the other two) this one is my favorite. Enjoy. Click to see bigger.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Steve Worth and Marc Decter have posted a slew of Milt Gross comic strips (dailies and glorious Sundays) over at ASIFA Hollywood Animation Archive. If you love this cartoonist, it's a must. If you haven't heard of him, DUNT ESK!--just go and check it out. Make a donation to this worthy cause while your at it. There's a ton of great classic art and information there...

Sunday, October 7, 2007

THE JUNGLE BOOK 40th ANNIVERSARY DVD boasts the richest, deepest picture yet and the faithful yet stunning audio I have been waiting decades for. Extras include original demos of unused songs, a re-created story reel of the deleted rhino sequence, and several documentary interviews with participants and admirers including the Sherman Bros, Woolie Reitherman, Andreas Deja, Brad Bird, James Baxter and even yours truly.SCOTT SANTORO (my pal and FOSSIL FOOLS co-creator) has a new personal blog. Here he is chronicling his stay in London as he storyboards on an upcoming film. He may also post progress on a children's book he is working on for next fall and more. Check it out...SAFETY SHOES is a side-splitting short film ostensibly made to promote protective footwear in 1965 by unsung genius Len Glasser. It's actually a series of fast-paced animated and live-action skits that seem to presage everything from ROGER RAMJET to Monty Python, THE PRODUCERS, KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE and more. If you like Fred Crippen, Saul Bass, Ernie Pintoff and general hilarity click the link now and thank me later. (Your feet will thank me too) Available at CARTOON BREW FILMS for just 2 bucks, it is well worth it.